The significance of Bernie Sanders' filibuster

For the past two years, Harry Reid could, conceivably, have forced the Republicans to mount an actual filibuster. That is, nowadays, as we've often discussed, the minority party merely needs to threaten a filibuster, and the majority, knowing that it does not have 60 votes, will just put off the vote so as not to waste everyone's time (in part, because they all have to spend so much time calling donors and raising money, and yes, I'm being serious about that).

I can't count the number of times I've heard liberals say, "Reid should just make them filibuster! Make them hold the floor for 24 straight hours, as Strom Thurmond once did. They will look ridiculous to the American people, especially as said people figure out they're trying to block a relatively inexpensive unemployment benefits extension, and the opposition will crash down like a house of cards."

In a session with a record number of filibusters threatened and cloture motions filed, it never happened. Almost, once or twice; but it didn't. So, it's kind of sad that the only actual filibuster of the whole dysfunctional session is the one happening right now, but it doesn't involve Republicans at all.